Opportunity for All: Oldham’s Strategy for the Provision of Mainstream and Send School Places 2020-2024 Andy Collinge Head of School Support Service October 2019 Contents Foreword by Cllr Shaid Mushtaq …………………………………….…………..……. 3 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………... 4 Principles and local context ……………………………………………………...…….. 5 Needs analysis …………………………………………………………………...……….. 8 Funding streams for capital works ……………………………………………………. 9 Revenue Funding Implications ……………………………………………………...…. 10 Decision making and governance ……………………………………………..…….... 11 Variables over the lifetime of the Strategy …………………………………………… 12 Strategic Principles……………………………………………………………………….. 12 Glossary of terms ……………………………………………………………………….... 13 Appendix A: Schools in Oldham Appendix B: Academy Conversion and Free School Policies Appendix C: SEND Data and Predictions Appendix D: Admissions and Appeal Performance Appendix E: SCAP Data and Commentary Appendix F: Pupil Projection Methodology Appendix G: Decision Support Matrix Appendix H: Basic Needs Grant Allocation Appendix I: EPG Terms of Reference Appendix J: Maintained Schools Delivery Route Appendix K: Academies Delivery Route Appendix L: Priority Schemes for 2019/20 2 1. Foreword Councillor Shaid Mushtaq Cabinet Member for Education, Early Years and Skills The demand for school places in Oldham has increased significantly in recent years, in 2019 there were around 42,000 school age children by 2024 this will have increased to 45,000 and by 2028 to almost 47,000 pupils. The Council has a statutory role to ensure that every child in the borough has a school place. In addition to this it is the clear aim of the Council is to go beyond statutory requirements and ensure that these places are in good or outstanding schools and that as many people as possible are offered a place in a school of their choice. Good schools with high attainment rates are crucial if the town is going to develop and thrive in the 21st Century. There has been unprecedented reform in the education system in recent years, with many schools becoming academies, forming trusts and federations or becoming MATS (Multi- Academy Trusts) in their own right. This has necessitated a change in the way the Council has to operate and open and honest relationships with all providers will be a cornerstone of the Council’s approach to improving and developing outstanding provision in the borough. The Council is committed to working closely with all education providers on an equal footing. This strategy acknowledges that continuous improvement of the education offer in Oldham cannot be achieved without equal, honest and open relationships with every provider in the borough. Strong partnership arrangements are in place, which include the Council, the Oldham Education Partnership (OEP) and the Opportunity Area (OA). This involves working with all Schools, Academies, Multi Academy Trusts (MATs), Dioceses and Teaching Schools to improve opportunities and outcomes for all. There is a shared strategic vision to improve life chances for all children and young people in Oldham through a combined approach that is owned by all partners. Oldham knows its schools well and is very well placed to continue recent improvements across the educational system. This strategic document provides the context and policy for the provision of statutory education places in Oldham for children and young people, including those with SEND. As with mainstream provision analysis of SEND place requirements also shows a significant increase in demand. Oldham has some of the best SEND provision in the country and we will continue to work with local trusts to develop additional places and pathways for young people with additional needs so that they can contribute fully to the economic and cultural growth of the borough. We are acutely aware that not every parent and child are offered the school place of their choice. We will strive though the creation of additional places and through working with trusts and schools to achieve a significant increase in the number of children attending good and outstanding schools, particularly in the secondary sector. Choice of place in the primary sector already exceeds national averages and by 2022 we hope to mirror this in the secondary sector. 3 2. Introduction 2.1. Councils have a statutory duty to ensure there are enough school places available for local children and young people. No other local or national body shares with them the duty to secure sufficient primary and secondary and special school places. This cannot be achieved without working in partnership with schools, trusts and a range of other partners. 2.2. This strategic document provides the context and policy for the provision of education places for children and young people aged including those with SEND. This information may prove useful for schools and education providers in the context of their own development planning and for those organisations who are considering offering education provision in the town or submitting applications to open provision via the annual Free School Wave. 2.3. Oldham Council, along with many other local authorities nationally, is facing the significant challenge presented by the increase in demand for school places. Expansions of the primary sector having continued consistently since the early 2000’s and the number of children in the primary sector has increased from around 21,000 in 2005 to nearly 25,000 in 2019. There has been significant increases in primary age children in the borough particularly since 2011 onwards and this has in turn required a subsequent increase in secondary school places. The current pressure on the secondary sector is set to continue until at least the mid 2020’s. Additional secondary provision will be provided to cope with this demand. 2.4. Future demand for school places is predicted using an agreed formula that takes account birth rates, inward migration and proposed new housing. Current projects in the secondary sector have provided an extra 222 places for 2019. Additional capacity will also be provided by 2 brand new Secondary Academies in 2020 and 2022 which will eventually (when full) provide an additional 2,700 places. 2.5. In order to deliver its statutory responsibilities in the provision of school places, Oldham Council will seek to provide standardised design solutions based on the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s (ESFA) baseline template wherever possible, in order to minimise costs and timescales. Oldham Council will always fully consult with all stakeholders prior to reaching into reaching decisions. 2.6. The Regional Schools Commissioner (RSC) for Lancashire and West Yorkshire works with school leaders to promote and monitor academies and free schools and is responsible for decisions regarding new academy and free school sponsors, approving new academies in the area and intervening in underperforming academies and free schools. 2.7. The population growth forecast across the Greater Manchester authorities will continue to create increased demand and consequent pressure on school places. Consideration is being given to the development of a GM pupil forecasting model as part of the proposed GM Education, Employability and Early Years Devolution Programme. The aim would be to consolidate fragmented pupil place planning processes and school estate capital. The Council will fully engage with any GM wide strategy on the development of school’s places. 4 3. Principles and Local Context 3.1. The Council’s Corporate Plan encompasses themes of driving change, delivering high performance and encouraging investment and regeneration. None of this can be achieved without a first-class education offer that promotes opportunities and enables young people to make the most of their talent and ambitions. In order to attract the best employers and deliver skilled jobs and drive economic prosperity it is crucial that our education system produces literate, motivated and confident young people. We want people to succeed and remain in the borough offering their skills and talents to local employers. 3.2. When seeking to manage the demand and supply of school places in Oldham, Oldham Council will take into account the diverse range of provision and educational organisation arrangements that are working well and those that are not working as well. When new or changed provision is considered the Council will seek to influence any proposals to secure high quality educational provision for its citizens. The Council works with all education institutions, the RSC and academy and free school sponsors to secure high standards ensuring parents have a real choice in selecting appropriate provision for their children. The current school and college estate is shown at Appendix A. 3.3. Oldham Council policies for Academies and Free Schools set out the Council’s policy when schools convert to academy status or when Free Schools are established or proposed in the borough. Academies become independent of local authorities and conversion leads to changes in responsibilities, finance and working relations between local authorities and academies. The policies and guidance outline the approach that will be taken by the Local Authority and offers practical advice and guidance on how governing bodies should approach the issue of conversion and how the local authority (LA) will engage with the conversion and free school process. The applicable policies can be found at Appendix B. 3.4. There has been a rise in the number of special school places from 780 places in 2015 to 923 in 2018. Between 2015-19 we have seen a significant increase in the number of special school places across all primary need categories for SEND. The number of pupils with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) attending a special school in Oldham has seen a 152% increase from 2015 to 2019 with 71 pupils attending a special school in 2015, compared to 179 pupils in 2019. The significant increase in places can be attributed to the increase in Education, Health and Care Plans that we have seen from 2015-19 and the sheer demand for children and young people to attend a special school in Oldham.